The Committee for Justice (CFJ) renews its call, on the seventh anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Libyan Member of Parliament Seham Sergiwa, for the immediate disclosure of her fate and whereabouts. Sergiwa has been missing since 17 July 2019, after armed individuals stormed her home in the city of Benghazi and took her to an unknown location, where her fate remains unknown to this day.
CFJ emphasizes that the case of Seham Sergiwa remains one of the most prominent cases of enforced disappearance in Libya, illustrating the persistence of impunity for serious violations in the absence of an independent and transparent investigation capable of establishing the truth and ensuring accountability for those responsible for her disappearance.
The Committee considers that the continued uncertainty surrounding the case over the past seven years constitutes an ongoing violation of the right to liberty and personal security, as well as the right of her family to know the truth. It also reflects the broader challenges facing efforts to combat enforced disappearance and strengthen the rule of law in Libya.
The Committee for Justice calls on the authorities in eastern Libya to immediately disclose the fate and whereabouts of Seham Sergiwa, and to conduct a serious, independent, and transparent investigation leading to accountability for all those responsible for her disappearance. CFJ also stresses the importance of guaranteeing her family’s rights to truth, justice, and redress, and reiterates that ending impunity for enforced disappearance is an essential step toward strengthening the protection of rights and freedoms and preventing the recurrence of such violations.
